TYREE’S ANTISEPTIC POWDER.
Tyree’s antiseptic powder was assigned for examination to a subcommittee of the Council, which made the following report:
To the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry: Your subcommittee, to whom was assigned Tyree’s Pulv. Antiseptic Comp., marketed by J. S. Tyree, Washington, D. C., reports as follows:
The label on the package states: “This preparation is a scientific combination of borate of sodium, alumen, carbolic acid, glycerin and the crystallized principles of thyme, eucalyptus, gaultheria, and mentha, in the form of a powder,” etc.
The statement that the powder contains the crystalline principles of thyme, eucalyptus, gaultheria and mentha is vague and misleading, since the chief medical constituents of eucalyptus and gaultheria are liquids, but it tends to convey the impression that the powder contains the essential constituents of these drugs, namely, thymol, oil of eucalyptus or eucalyptol, oil of wintergreen, or methyl salicylate, and menthol.
The literature supplied to physicians claims its composition to be: “Parts, sod. bor., 50; alumen, 50; ac. carbol., 5; glycerin, 5; the cryst. principles of thyme, 5; eucalyptus, 5; gaultheria, 5, and mentha, 5.”
The composition, therefore, might be expressed as follows:—
| Sodium borate (borax) | 50 parts, or | 38·46 per cent. |
| Alum | 50 parts, or | 38·46 per cent. |
| Phenol (carbolic acid) | 5 parts, or | 3·85 per cent. |
| Glycerin | 5 parts, or | 3·85 per cent. |
| Thymol | 5 parts, or | 3·85 per cent. |
| Oil of eucalyptus or eucalyptol | 5 parts, or | 3·85 per cent. |
| Oil of gaultheria (or menthyl salicylate) | 5 parts, or | 3·85 per cent. |
| Menthol | 5 parts, or | 3·85 per cent. |
Analysis of specimens purchased from different sources in the open market were made under our direction. The reports of the chemists show that Tyree’s antiseptic powder contains no borax, or mere traces only, and that it contains no alum, or mere traces only. Instead, the analyses show that boric acid and zinc sulphate are the essential constituents. The amounts of carbolic acid, thymol, menthol, etc., contained in the powder, if present, were far below the quantities indicated by the formula. The presence of glycerin could not be demonstrated, and if present the amount must be very small.
Our chemist reports:—
The result of analysis shows that different samples differ slightly in composition, but that the following indicates the average composition of the product:—
| Per cent. | |
|---|---|
| Zinc sulphate, anhydrous | 15.56. |
| Boric acid | 81.26. |
| Volatile matter at 100 C. for four hours | 0.45. |
The undetermined portion consists of salicylic acid, carbolic acid, menthol and eucalyptol; possibly other antiseptic agents may be present in very minute quantities.
From the above findings we conclude that Tyree’s antiseptic powder is a mixture of boric acid and dried zinc sulphate and antiseptic bodies, such as menthol, salicylic acid and carbolic acid, eucalyptol, etc. From this it can be readily seen that the label which is supposed to set forth the composition of Tyree’s antiseptic powder is not in accord with the facts. The powder does not contain either borate of sodium or alum, and the presence of glycerin could not be established. The antiseptic agents, exclusive of the boric acid, are present only in small amounts.
The report of another analyst concludes as follows:
It evidently contains less than the amount stated of the principles of thyme, eucalyptus, wintergreen and mint. It also contains a very small amount indeed of carbolic acid, much less than that stated. We have been unable to identify certainly the presence of glycerin, and it is doubtful if it be present.
From the result of the analysis we feel confident that the preparation is to all intents and purposes a mixture of boric acid and sulphate of zinc.
The carbolic acid, thyme, eucalyptus, wintergreen, etc., if present, are present only in sufficient amount to give the compound a satisfactory odor.
In view of the fact that J. S. Tyree has given wide publicity to a formula which the preceding report has shown to be a deliberate misrepresentation of fact, it is recommended that the article be refused recognition by the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry, and that this report be published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The recommendation of the subcommittee was adopted by the Council in accordance with which the report is published.
W. A. Puckner, Secretary.
In a letter to the editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Mr. Tyree admits changing the formula of the powder, and says that it had been his intention to state to the medical profession his reasons for making the change. In commenting on the letter it is noted that Mr. Tyree does not state whether the change was made one year ago or five years ago, but the sample for the first analysis was purchased last February, and the first chemist’s report was submitted to the Council March 5, 1906. On April 4th, Mr. Tyree was notified by the Council that the composition of “Tyree’s Antiseptic Powder” did not correspond with the formula published by him. Whether or not Mr. Tyree is justified in offering to physicians a preparation as composed chiefly of borax and alum, when in reality it is composed of boric acid and zinc sulphate, is left for physicians to judge.